Too much thyme on my hands

garden thyme meme

It’s raining today so unfortunately I won’t be able to putter in the garden. I’ve enjoyed playing with dirt and clay since childhood, long before the coronavirus crisis. Being outside is therapeutic for me, both mentally and physically. Even the tedious task of pulling weeds brings feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction. Greg doesn’t like yard work though he mows the lawn and has helped hoe weeds and cover plants to prevent frost on cold nights.

For anyone considering ways to pass time while stuck at home, the advice given in “basic steps to start a vegetable garden” is a good primer for beginners. I learned cultivation techniques from my grandparents. Following their traditions, I still check an almanac before scheduling various garden tasks like planting and pruning. Gardening by phases of the moon may be more superstition than science but I don’t care. It hasn’t hurt so no harm, no foul.

My maternal grandparents plowed long rows with a tractor on their family farm. My paternal grandparents lived in town so they used a rotor-tiller to prep smaller garden plots. Plowing and tilling are not truly necessary though since there are no-till options. After learning permaculture techniques from Charlie Headington, I added a lot of his recommendations to my gardening notebook.

My preferred method is square foot gardening in raised beds like these concrete planters next to our patio. When we bought the house 2 years ago, the planters contained neglected ornamentals and weeds. We moved the gardenias and mini rose bushes to a different location in our yard, removed all the weeds utilizing small hand tools and a little elbow grease, then added some cow manure given to us by a friend to mix with the remaining dirt.  

an assortment of vegetables and herbs in raised bed concrete planters

 chives, spinach and lettuce at the front of our cottage

 herbs and tomatoes on the patio side

cucumbers, squash and lavender also on the patio side

To replenish the soil over time and feed nutrients to our plants, we make our own compost with kitchen and yard scraps. We have a handy tumbler composter though you don’t need one. My grandfather piled compostables in a heap and turned them with a pitchfork, which worked quite well.

 a compost tumbler is positioned nearby for easy access

Last year I tried Miracle Gro organics for the first time and thought it was a good short term supplemental fertilizer. The Miracle Gro brand and parent company Scott are controversial so I’m considering options this year.

Companion planting is another good practice to make efficient use of limited space. We have an assortment of plants in regular (non-raised) beds in various locations around the house and yard. Sometimes I mix fruits and vegetables amongst ornamentals.

blackberry and raspberry brambles planted near azalea, camellia, honeysuckle and nandina

  fruit trees and blueberry bushes along the property line with arborvitae

herbs and mints planted off the patio; hammock and shed in the distance

 

  saw a toad while pulling weeds, named him Todd

A blogger in Palo Alto, CA recently wrote about his objections to restrictions placed on garden nurseries. I empathize with him and hope those restrictions can be relaxed soon. Protestors in Michigan also complained about state restrictions on gardening, though Politifact clarified the restrictions are on big box stores like Walmart, mandating non-essential departments and products (including garden centers) be cordoned off to discourage leisure shopping. April in Michigan is not as garden friendly as here in the southeast, though I hope stores will make available seed packets and live plants as space allows. Next time I go to the grocery store I’ll be looking for lettuce and marigold seed packets specifically.

Poppies and wildflowers are blooming on CA hillsides this spring. The 2019 super bloom resulted in swarms of tourists trampling through delicate meadows in search of the perfect Instagram photo. Hopefully people will be more careful this year.

Ordinarily I don’t think much about 4/20 Day when it rolls around each year, but I noticed a social media post from Ben & Jerry that caught my attention: a cannabis justice call to action asking Congress to expunge prior marijuana convictions and provide pardons/amnesty to anyone whose only crime was smoking a joint. All things considered, seems reasonable to me.

  4/20 weed meme

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) began advocating for cannabis reforms 50 years ago. Currently several states have laws allowing medicinal and/or recreational marijuana use yet it remains illegal in parts of the US. I’m not a toker myself though I did inhale a few times when I was much younger, and I’ve sampled small amounts of edibles during more recent trips to California and Colorado.

I believe people who think marijuana is a gateway for harder drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth are misguided and misinformed. Some drug users do indeed seek bigger bolder highs, and some develop addictions. However, based on personal experience as well as behaviors of family and friends, I think reasonably regulated cannabis is relatively safe; no more of a health risk than adult beverages, tobacco products, or prescription meds. Technically caffeine is a drug too. I’m super sensitive to caffeine so I limit my intake by drinking decaf coffee and teas, and by avoiding soda pop.

In the spirit of spreading happy, positive, and/or silly vibes:

• Chris Mann sings parody of Vogue.
• DIY face mask sewing tutorial with Kay, bless her heart.
• Red solo cup pyramid challenge goes awry.
• Sportscaster interviews animal mascots via Zoom.
• TikTok showcases pandemic art projects.

Daily pandemic update:  

Belgium's immediate coronavirus crisis appeared to have passed its peak as the number of people admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 fell to its lowest level in a month. The UK government admitted a shortage of masks and gowns for healthcare staff as it faced mounting criticism from doctors and medical workers. Britain said it will review its approach to the coronavirus pandemic to learn what it could have done better, following criticism that the government was too slow to react. Poland said it may reverse the loosening of restrictions if the number of new cases rises significantly. Aljazeera.com timeline

20 Apr 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
17:08 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	2,347,887	2,444,614	161,138	168,005	605,718	640,342
US	738,923	771,197	39,015	41,356	68,285	71,489
NY	242,570	248,431	17,627	18,298	28,884	29, 275
CT	17,550	17,962	1,086	1,127	63	63
NC	6,378	6,852	192	202	1,177	1,177

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter, son Reid lives in CT, and I live in NC. 
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/     https://www.coronainusa.com/  

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news:  

• Phase 4 PPP stimulus negotiations expected to resume this week.
• 4/20 call to action: Ask congress to support MORE Act, expunge cannabis convictions. 
• 6 people who attended SC funeral have died from COVID-19.
• 16 people dead after gunman went on senseless rampage in Nova Scotia.
• COVID-19 Response Fund awarded $1 million to Forsyth County nonprofits.
• El Chapo’s daughter and Mexican cartels help distribute coronavirus aid.
• Hotspots erupt in farm belt states where governors resist stay at home orders.
• Mark Meadows, current Chief of Staff, reportedly emotionally volatile.
• Neiman Marcus announced plans to file for bankruptcy.
• North Korea foreign ministry denied letter sent to Trump.
• Novo Nordisk offering free insulin to diabetics without health insurance.
• Reporters Weijia Jiang (CBS) and Jeremy Diamond (CNN) asked tough but appropriate questions during Trump Sunday presser.
• Second wave of cases in Asian countries leads to suppress and lift cycles.
• Sunday was the 25^th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
• IHME projects it may be safe enough for states to begin reopening between early May and late June.
• Winston Salem established guidelines to manage congestion at landfills.
• Wuhan lab director denied virus began there.

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• NC Black Repertory Theatre holds live online readings Mondays at 7pm.
• 17 year old cancer survivor gave his Make-A-Wish to help health care workers.
• Busch offering free beer to couples whose wedding plans changed due to pandemic.
• KS drive in movie theater hosting graduation celebrations.
• KY woman cashed stimulus check to help feed homeless. 
• MS man offering cheap gas and free masks.
• Nurse who nearly died of coronavirus received cheers when discharge from hospital.

In my personal life…

My brother Randy called at 11am so I could remotely join family members meeting with a realtor regarding farm property. When our grandpa died in 2007 he left the family farm to his 5 children. My mom passed away in 2015 so her 1/5 share of the estate is now to be split between my brother and me. It was listed with a different realtor for a while though that contract expired so our aunt and uncles are working with a new realtor to list the property again. No one expects 133 acres to sell quickly, though there have been inquiries over the years. The realtor said the local real estate market is surprisingly hot right now despite the pandemic. We've heard family in SC who work as real estate appraisers also are keeping busy. 

Since it’s raining here, Greg and I will most likely stay inside most of the day. After lunch we’re going to work on a grocery list. I may go out this afternoon or maybe wait for better weather tomorrow. No rush. No worries.